Is TN going in for vertical factories? Amendment sought in TNCBR to allow high rise buildings be used for industrial purposes

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:

Could high-rise buildings be used for industrial purposes? The Rule 39 of Tamil Nadu Combined Building Rules 2019 is silent on it resulting in the Industries department seeking clarification from the Housing department.

It is learnt that Rule 39 of TNCBR 2019 prescribes the planning parameters for high rise buildings which exceed 18.3 metre height. But the confusion is that the guidelines for high rise buildings are not specified based on usage such as housing, institutional buildings and industries. The move by the Industries department seeking clarification is that the new age factories are being designed differently unlike in the past where in the Industrial buildings were flat buildings. The rules framed then did not take these into account.

Apart from these, due to land scarcity in many countries, vertical factories are coming up. This apart to avoid building large industrial zones within the city limits, many cities are creating vertical factories, allowing for maximum convenience and efficient logistics. This makes it possible to have a large production capacity in minimum space, minimising damage to the environment and increasing the efficiency of each object.

It is learnt that Industries department has sought clarification on Rule 39 that high rise buildings can be used for industrial purposes and that the conditions prescribed for high rise buildings would be applicable to industries as well. Industrial buildings are a typical factory or other larger facility that serves one or more business purposes such as manufacturing, remodeling, power generation, repair, and cleaning.

Sources said that the housing department is planning to issue clarification on Rule 39 that high rises could be used for industrial purposes and conditions prescribed for high rise buildings will be applicable to industrial buildings as well.

Similarly, the Industries department is also seeking amendment in Tamil Nadu Combined Development Building Rules on parking regulations for industries.

Official sources said that for industries, the parking regulations may not be specified for different vehicle types. Instead a total parking space at an aggregate level may be prescribed on a case  to case basis based on the number of parking slots for each vehicle type. The number of parking spaces reserved for each vehicle is left to the discretion of the industry.

It is learnt that the Industries department has suggested the housing department to look into Gujarat Comprehensive Development Control Regulations wherein the total parking space requirement is prescribed based on floor space area. It is learnt that the housing department is likely to be considered as part of the ongoing review of Tamil Nadu Combined Development Building Rules.